It was in 2001 that Fabrizio Fanticini, composition teacher at the Arrigo Boito Conservatoire in Parma, Italy, invited me to a course in contemporary music held by Maestro Dario Indrigo at Castelnuovo ne' Monti in the mountains near Reggio Emilia. I hurriedly studied Franco Donatoni’s Serenata II. A two-hour journey across the familiar mountains brought me to my first contemporary music course. Serenata II was not difficult and I had practiced it thoroughly. During the course, some of the students had difficulties, but one young girl, the flutist, stood out for her quickness and background. I liked Chiara Agosti, the flutist. I liked playing Serenata II and I liked being in the group.

At that time I was playing with violinist Matteo Gargani, an old school friend, who had asked me to accompany him on the piano after his return from Austria. Together we performed in a few concerts and competitions. We played rarely heard pieces, which often fitted our times. We all met up a couple of years later to play in trio of flute, violin and harpsichord. Our first piece was Promenades by Bohuslav Martinü. We put a lot of energy into the piece and played it often. This was only the beginning. At our first concerts people were amazed to hear the harpsichord play that type of music.

In the meantime I completed my diploma in harpsichord at the Conservatoire, and played Hungarian Rock by György Ligeti at my graduation. My harpsichord tutor, Maria Pia Jacoboni, encouraged my enthusiasm for contemporary music. With her support and dedication we published a volume at my suggestion which was a catalogue describing music for harpsichord and its development. At period music courses in Urbino I played Ligeti again and at the request of Enrico Baiano I played the same wonderful piece at the closing concert. I met another harpsichord player called Rosalba Lapresentazione and we stayed in touch. One evening at Caffè Orientale in Piazza Garibaldi in the centre of Parma, it was she who first introduced Novecembalo to the world.

emporanea e mi incoraggiò ancor più. Mia fu l'idea, ma lei gli diede le ali: iniziammo un lavoro di ricerca che portò a risultati inaspettati, affascinanti e che venne raccolto nella pubblicazione di un catalogo. Ai corsi di musica antica di Urbino suonai ancora Ligeti ed Enrico Baiano mi fece eseguire quel brano al concerto finale degli allievi. Che gioia. Ai corsi conobbi una ragazza, anch'essa cembalista e rimanemmo in contatto a lungo. Una sera al Caffè Orientale di Piazza Garibaldi a Parma, Rosalba Lapresentazione pronunciò per la prima volta al mondo Novecembalo. Mi lasciò senza parole.

Diadorim Saviola